American Big-Game Hunting 
us down in the park from his ridge. He had 
come to the edge, and was evidently watch- 
ing the horses. If not quick-witted, the goat 
is certainly wary; and the next time we saw 
him he had taken himself away down the other 
side of the mountain, along a spine of rocks 
where approach was almost impossible. We 
watched his slow movements through the glass, 
and were both reminded of a bear. He felt 
safe, and was stepping deliberately along, 
often stopping, often walking up some small 
point and surveying the scenery. He moved 
in an easy, rolling fashion, and turned his head 
importantly. Then he lay down in the sun, 
but saw us on our way to him, and bounced 
off. We came to the place where he had 
jumped down sheer twenty feet at least. His 
hoof-tracks were on the edge, and in the gravel 
below the heavy scatter he made in landing; 
and then,—hasty tracks round a corner of 
rock, and no more goat that day. 
I had become uneasy about the weather. 
It was all sunshine again, and though our first 
goat was irretrievably gone, we had the after- 
noon before us. Nevertheless, when I sug- 
gested we should spend it in taking the shoes 
52 
